4,592 research outputs found
Multimetallic Oxynitrides Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Photocatalysts
A versatile synthetic strategy for the preparation of multimetallic oxynitrides has been designed and here exemplarily discussed considering the preparation of nanoscaled zinc\u2013gallium oxynitrides and zinc\u2013gallium\u2013indium oxynitrides, two important photocatalysts of new generation, which proved to be active in key energy related processes from pollutant decomposition to overall water splitting. The synthesis presented here allows the preparation of small nanoparticles (less than 20 nm in average diameter), well-defined in size and shape, yet highly crystalline and with the highest surface area reported so far (up to 80 m2 g 121). X-ray diffraction studies show that the final material is not a mixture of single oxides but a distinctive compound. The photocatalytic properties of the oxynitrides have been tested towards the decomposition of an organic dye (as a model reaction for the decomposition of air pollutants), showing better photocatalytic performances than the corresponding pure phases (reaction constant 0.22 h 121), whereas almost no reaction was observed in absence of catalyst or in the dark. The photocatalysts have been also tested for H2 evolution (semi-reaction of the water splitting process) with results comparable to the best literature values but leaving room for further improvement
Tracing magnetism and pairing in FeTe-based systems
In order to examine the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity, we
monitor the non- superconducting chalcogenide FeTe and follow its transitions
under insertion of oxygen, doping with Se and vacancies of Fe using
spin-polarized band structure methods (LSDA with GGA) starting from the
collinear and bicollinear magnetic arrangements. We use a supercell of Fe8Te8
as our starting point so that it can capture local changes in magnetic moments.
The calculated values of magnetic moments agree well with available
experimental data while oxygen insertions lead to significant changes in the
bicollinear or collinear magnetic moments. The total energies of these systems
indicate that the collinear-derived structure is the more favorable one prior
to a possible superconducting transition. Using a 8-site Betts-cluster-based
lattice and the Hubbard model, we show why this structure favors electron or
hole pairing and provides clues to a common understanding of charge and spin
pairing in the cuprates, pnictides and chalcogenides
Near-Infrared Super Resolution Imaging with Metallic Nanoshell Particle Chain Array
We propose a near-infrared super resolution imaging system without a lens or
a mirror but with an array of metallic nanoshell particle chain. The imaging
array can plasmonically transfer the near-field components of dipole sources in
the incoherent and coherent manners and the super resolution images can be
reconstructed in the output plane. By tunning the parameters of the metallic
nanoshell particle, the plasmon resonance band of the isolate nanoshell
particle red-shifts to the near-infrared region. The near-infrared super
resolution images are obtained subsequently. We calculate the field intensity
distribution at the different planes of imaging process using the finite
element method and find that the array has super resolution imaging capability
at near-infrared wavelengths. We also show that the image formation highly
depends on the coherence of the dipole sources and the image-array distance.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Measurement of the Branching Fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0
Using 58 million J/psi and 14 million psi' decays obtained by the BESII
experiment, the branching fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0 is determined. The
result is (2.10+/-0.12)X10^{-2}, which is significantly higher than previous
measurements.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, RevTex
First observation of psi(2S)-->K_S K_L
The decay psi(2S)-->K_S K_L is observed for the first time using psi(2S) data
collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESII) at the Beijing Electron
Positron Collider (BEPC); the branching ratio is determined to be
B(psi(2S)-->K_S K_L) = (5.24\pm 0.47 \pm 0.48)\times 10^{-5}. Compared with
J/psi-->K_S K_L, the psi(2S) branching ratio is enhanced relative to the
prediction of the perturbative QCD ``12%'' rule. The result, together with the
branching ratios of psi(2S) decays to other pseudoscalar meson pairs
(\pi^+\pi^- and K^+K^-), is used to investigate the relative phase between the
three-gluon and the one-photon annihilation amplitudes of psi(2S) decays.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Optical biosensor differentiates signaling of endogenous PAR1 and PAR2 in A431 cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Protease activated receptors (PARs) consist of a family of four G protein-coupled receptors. Many types of cells express several PARs, whose physiological significance is mostly unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we show that non-invasive resonant waveguide grating (RWG) biosensor differentiates signaling of endogenous protease activated receptor subtype 1 (PAR<sub>1</sub>) and 2 (PAR<sub>2</sub>) in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. The biosensor directly measures dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) resulted from ligand-induced receptor activation in adherent cells. In A431, both PAR<sub>1 </sub>and PAR<sub>2 </sub>agonists, but neither PAR<sub>3 </sub>nor PAR<sub>4 </sub>agonists, trigger dose-dependent Ca<sup>2+ </sup>mobilization as well as G<sub>q</sub>-type DMR signals. Both Ca<sup>2+ </sup>flux and DMR signals display comparable desensitization patterns upon repeated stimulation with different combinations of agonists. However, PAR<sub>1 </sub>and PAR<sub>2 </sub>exhibit distinct kinetics of receptor re-sensitization. Furthermore, both trypsin- and thrombin-induced Ca<sup>2+ </sup>flux signals show almost identical dependence on cell surface cholesterol level, but their corresponding DMR signals present different sensitivities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Optical biosensor provides an alternative readout for examining receptor activation under physiologically relevant conditions, and differentiates the signaling of endogenous PAR<sub>1 </sub>and PAR<sub>2 </sub>in A431.</p
Night Heart Rate Variability and Particulate Exposures among Boilermaker Construction Workers
Background: Although studies have documented the association between heart rate variability (HRV) and ambient particulate exposures, the association between HRV, especially at night, and metal-rich, occupational particulate exposures remains unclear. Objective: Our goal in this study was to investigate the association between long-duration HRV, including nighttime HRV, and occupational PM2.5 exposures. Methods: We used 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiograms (ECGs) to monitor 36 male boilermaker welders (mean age of 41 years) over a workday and nonworkday. ECGs were analyzed for HRV in the time domain; rMSSD (square root of the mean squared differences of successive intervals), SDNN (SD of normal-to-normal intervals over entire recording), and SDNNi (SDNN for all 5-min segments) were summarized over 24-hr, day (0730–2130 hours), and night (0000–0700 hours) periods. PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) exposures were monitored over the workday, and 8-hr time-weighted average concentrations were calculated. We used linear regression to assess the associations between HRV and workday particulate exposures. Matched measurements from a nonworkday were used to control for individual cardiac risk factors. Results: Mean (± SD) PM2.5 exposure was 0.73 ± 0.50 mg/m3 and ranged from 0.04 to 2.70 mg/m3. We observed a consistent inverse exposure–response relationship, with a decrease in all HRV measures with increased PM2.5 exposure. However, the decrease was most pronounced at night, where a 1-mg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a change of −8.32 [95% confidence interval (CI), −16.29 to −0.35] msec nighttime rMSSD, −14.77 (95% CI, −31.52 to 1.97) msec nighttime SDNN, and −8.37 (95% CI, −17.93 to 1.20) msec nighttime SDNNi, after adjusting for nonworking nighttime HRV, age, and smoking. Conclusion: Metal-rich particulate exposures were associated with decreased long-duration HRV, especially at night. Further research is needed to elucidate which particulate metal constituent is responsible for decreased HRV
Resonances in and
A partial wave analysis is presented of and
from a sample of 58M events in the BES II detector. The
is observed clearly in both sets of data, and parameters of the
Flatt\' e formula are determined accurately: (stat)
(syst) MeV/c, MeV/c, . The data also exhibit a strong peak
centred at MeV/c. It may be fitted with and a
dominant signal made from interfering with a smaller
component. There is evidence that the signal is
resonant, from interference with . There is also a state in with MeV/c and
MeV/c; spin 0 is preferred over spin 2. This state, , is
distinct from . The data contain a strong peak due to
. A shoulder on its upper side may be fitted by interference
between and .Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.
Search for K_S K_L in psi'' decays
K_S K_L from psi'' decays is searched for using the psi'' data collected by
BESII at BEPC, the upper limit of the branching fraction is determined to be
B(psi''--> K_S K_L) < 2.1\times 10^{-4} at 90% C. L. The measurement is
compared with the prediction of the S- and D-wave mixing model of the
charmonia, based on the measurements of the branching fractions of J/psi-->K_S
K_L and psi'-->K_S K_L.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
First Measurements of eta_c Decaying into K^+K^-2(pi^+pi^-) and 3(pi^+pi^-)
The decays of eta_c to K^+K^-2(pi^+pi^-) and 3(pi^+pi^-) are observed for the
first time using a sample of 5.8X10^7 J/\psi events collected by the BESII
detector. The product branching fractions are determined to be B(J/\psi-->gamma
eta_c)*B(eta_c-->K^+K^-pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)=(1.21+-0.32+-
0.23)X10^{-4}, and (J/\psi-->gamma eta_c)*
B(eta_c-->pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)= (2.59+-0.32+-0.48)X10^{-4}. The upper
limit for eta_c-->phi pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^- is also obtained as B(J/\psi-->gamma
eta_c)*B(eta_c--> phi pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)< 6.03 X10^{-5} at the 90% confidence
level.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
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